The standout moment of Australian television’s night of nights has been claimed by someone who wasn’t even at the ceremony.
Magda Szubanski was beamed into the 2025 Logie Awards on Sunday night as she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the beloved comedian and actress shared a message that left not a dry eye in the house.
“I want to say first of all – let’s get this out of the way – I have not been awarded this honour because I have the cancer,” Szubanski quipped at the start.
“The cancer” was in fact the reason for the 64-year-old’s absence from the awards ceremony. She has been isolating whilst undergoing treatment for stage four mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and fast-moving blood cancer, which she announced earlier this year she had been diagnosed with.
The honour of being inducted into the Hall of Fame recognises 40 years of work that has made Szubanski one of the most beloved Australian stars, best known for her role as Sharon Strzelecki in Kath & Kim as well as for characters on shows like Fast Forward, The D-Generation, and Big Girl’s Blouse.
”I am getting this because of 40 years of hard work: lobbying, bribing, threatening, whatever it took, whatever it took,” she joked.
“Finally it has all paid off, so I don’t feel like an imposter, I feel like I have earned it and I am thrilled.
“But honestly, I do want to say thank you so much for this honour.”
She teared up at the end of her speech, thanking the Australian public for their overwhelming support as she fights cancer.
“The love and support that I have felt, like a tsunami, from the Australian public, it has been overwhelming,” she said, wiping away tears.
”When I go online and look at those messages, every time, my heart lifts, and I feel that much stronger to deal with the cancer.
“So thank you for the love that you are pouring my way.”
The Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television went to Home and Away veteran Lynne McGranger, who beat out a field of women nominees and Hamish Blake.
A Current Affair‘s Ally Langdon had been in the running for the gold, but she didn’t leave empty handed, receiving the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter. She also accepted the award for Best Sports Coverage for the Paris Olympic Games, won by Nine and Stan Sport.
Blake – who always insisted he was a reluctant nominee for the Gold Logie in a field filled with women – accepted the award for Best Competition Reality Program for LEGO Masters Australia.
Travel Guides continued its winning streak, receiving its fourth consecutive Logie for Best Lifestyle Program.
‘This makes me cry so much’
Earlier in the night, Jelena Dokic won Best Factual or Documentary Program for Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story.
The former tennis star spoke directly to “every single girl and woman” watching.
”Never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away. Believe in your goals and dreams,” she said.
She ended with a moving moment and her biggest thanks for fellow tennis legend Todd Woodbridge, who she referred to as “my person”.
“This makes me cry so much because I sat down with you at the table 11 years ago when I retired and you said to me that I can be a commentator and bring my story to life,” Dokic said.
“I looked at you and I said to you, ‘I don’t know who you are talking about but you are not talking about me’.
“I was a person who couldn’t string two sentences together and had no social skills, but you believed in me.
“I hope everyone finds a Todd like I did.
“You’re a massive reason why I’m here.
“You love to remind me every single day how right I am and I still need to listen to you. So I will.
“I say if everyone can have a father and mentor like Todd, they would be very fortunate. Thank you everyone.”
It was a winning night for Woodbridge too, who collected his first ever Logie: the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter for his long list of credits that includes Tipping Point, the Australian Open, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris last year.
